Articles tagged with "Technology"

Digital product passports, already prevalent in the textile and electronics industries, are being introduced to the construction sector. These passports aim to enhance transparency across the supply chain for construction materials and products. This development aligns with broader industry trends towards increased digitalization and accountability.

The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is preparing to use a single-bore tunneling method for the next phase of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley extension. A competitive procurement process will be conducted to select a new tunneling contractor. This selection process is an essential step before beginning the construction work on the project.

NHS Commercial Solutions has selected over 40 companies to be part of a new £1 billion framework for providing modular and prefabricated building solutions for public sector clients. The four-year framework, awarded on November 3, is divided into three lots: consultancy services, modular building works, and prefabricated building works. This initiative aims to streamline the construction process and implement efficient building solutions in the public sector.

China has completed successful ground tests of an inflatable space station module, designed to enable large-scale manufacturing in orbit. This innovative module can be launched compactly and inflates once in space, addressing challenges of high launch costs. The module's development reflects China's growing ambitions in space technology, potentially challenging U.S. leadership in this sector. The deployment of such technologies could lead to mass production in space, with applications in biopharmaceuticals and novel materials.

The Japanese government, alongside major industrial partners, has committed $550 billion to a series of construction and development projects in the United States. These projects will focus on building energy infrastructure, data centers, and manufacturing facilities, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence applications. This substantial investment highlights Japan's strategic interest in the U.S. technology and energy sectors, which could signify a new phase of economic collaboration between the two countries.

The article discusses how public servants involved in procurement have been rumored to create hurdles in the competitive procurement process. They reportedly use innovative methods to maintain the appearance of fairness while manipulating the outcome of tenders or RFPs. The focus is on ensuring that proper procedures are followed to genuinely uphold competitive procurement standards.

NEC Contracts has introduced NEC Digital, a new online platform designed to transform contract drafting within the construction industry. The system offers guided contract setup, a comprehensive clause library, and enhanced collaboration tools tailored for various stakeholders. By digitizing these processes, NEC Digital seeks to improve efficiency, reduce disputes, and encourage wider adoption of collaborative contracting practices.

A construction team has been selected for the first phase of a $15 billion data center campus in Wisconsin. The facility will feature a closed-loop liquid cooling system to optimize water use and energy efficiency. This project represents a significant investment in sustainable technology and infrastructure development.

German researchers have developed a new sodium-ion battery using lignin, a wood waste by-product, as an electrode material. This project, called ThüNaBsE, involves the transformation of lignin into hard carbon for use in battery technology, avoiding the use of critical metals like lithium. The battery aims to power small electric vehicles and warehouse equipment, with early tests showing promising results. This initiative is supported by regional funding and aims for scalability and sustainability.

Bahrain's Foulath Holding has partnered with Yellow Door Energy to construct the world's largest single-site rooftop solar power plant, with a capacity of 123 MWp. This transformative project will consist of 77,000 solar panels on a 262,000-square-meter stockyard shed, generating 200 million kilowatt-hours in the first year. This initiative aids Bahrain's goal to reach Net Zero by 2060, reducing carbon emissions by 90,000 metric tons annually. It also represents a $250 million commitment from Foulath Holding to sustainable projects.

The UK's potential to become a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) largely depends on the construction of new data centers. With the AI market projected to reach £750 billion by 2035, there is an increased emphasis on the infrastructure needed to support this growth. Initiatives such as the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan are advocating for the expansion of data center capabilities to accommodate significant technological advancements.

After Hurricane Maria in 2017, homes in Puerto Rico transformed into mini power plants. Residents started generating their own electricity using rooftop solar systems coupled with batteries for storage. This decentralized energy approach has turned home batteries into a crucial component of a reliable grid asset for the island.